Red RC » Xray

March 10, 2023

Xray XB8E ’23 Buggy

Having announced the details of his XB8 ’23 1:8 Nitro Buggy a few days ago, today Xray has released the presentation of the electric version of their popular buggy platform. Like its noisier sibling the XB8E ’23 features all-new front & rear semi-split bulkhead with quick differential access without disassembling suspension and new front & rear diff height adjustment through eccentric bushings. A redesigned chassis layout offers the ability to place the motor and central assembly in a front or rear position to alter the weight balance depending on the track conditions. The new chassis layout was tested on all kind of surfaces to increase performance in any track situation. The shock towers are redesigned with the front & rear lower suspension holders having new mounting position with the front upper suspension holder matching the new servo saver. A redesigned wing holder fits the new semi-split rear bulkhead and the Wickerbill rear wing allows quick downforce adjustments and pre-marked airflow holes to reduce downforce.

View the full XB8E ’23 presentation here

March 7, 2023

Xray XB8’23

Xray has released the 2023 iteration of their XB8 1:8 Nitro Buggy. The latest chassis features all-new front & rear semi-split bulkhead with quick differential access without disassembling suspension and new front & rear diff height adjustment through eccentric bushings. The central drivetrain angle and height adjustment has been Improved and a redesigned chassis for semi-split bulkheads increases traction via improved rear chassis flex. The front aluminium & rear graphite shock towers are redesigned. The front & rear lower suspension holders have new mounting position with the front upper suspension holder matching the new servo saver. A redesigned wing holder fits the new semi-split rear bulkhead and the Wickerbill rear wing allows quick downforce adjustments and pre-marked airflow holes to reduce downforce. The XB8 ’23 also gets a new 46/13 internal gear ratio and 14T clutch bell expands usable gear ratios.

View the full XB8 ’23 presentation here

February 25, 2023

Coelho is Top Qualifier on TITC Return

Making his return to the TITC having missed the last edition of the race in 2020, after which the race itself was forced into a 2-year Covid break, Bruno Coelho is the Top Qualifier for the 19th edition of the famed Bangkok race. The Xray driver held the provisional TQ after the first day of qualifying at Infinity RC Addict, but went even better on Day 2 taking both the remaining rounds of qualifying. Behind the reigning World Champion, with the second fastest times in both Q3 & 4 having TQ’d the opening round, Axon’s Akio Sobue will start his TITC title defence from P2. With a strong Japanese showing at the event, Ishioka Hayato will start third behind his team-mate while Yamamoto Ryosuke led the Infinity charge securing P4 on the grid. Double TITC Champion Alexander Hagberg lines up 5th for Xray ahead of Marc Rheinard’s Awesomatix with the A-Main line-up completed by Naoto Matsukura, Jin Sawada, Jilles Groskamp and Chavit Sligupta. Unfortunately for RC Maker’s Ryan Maker just missed the cut, equalling his previous TITC qualifying best with the BQ honours.

Image: Xray [Facebook]

February 24, 2023

Coelho holds provisional TQ at TITC

Bruno Coelho holds the provisional TQ after day 1 of qualifying at the TITC in Thailand. The reigning World Champion opened the morning’s qualifying at the Infinity RC Addict track with the third fastest time while top seed Akio Sobue continued to be the pace setter for Axon ahead of team-mate Ishioka Hayato. However in Q2, the former Champion took his Xray to the top of the times bettering Sobue’s Q1 time by almost a second with a 5-minute run that was over 3.3-seconds faster than own first attempt. With 2 from 4 rounds of qualifying to count, tomorrow’s action in a very hot Bangkok with conclude with Q3 & 4 for Modified running in the afternoon into evening.

Image: Xray [Facebook]

February 17, 2023

Xray X4F Alu Flex Chassis 2.0mm

Xray has released a new optional aluminium 2.0mm Flex Chassis for its X4F 1:10 FWD Electric Touring Car. The chassis is recommended for high traction carpet tracks, making the car easier to drive and more stable in high traction condition and avoiding traction roll. Made from 7075 T6 aluminium, it features special cut outs for optimal flex characteristics. The ultra-narrow chassis is only 84mm wide and features special cut outs that provide the chassis flex characteristics suitable for a wide variety of the traction levels. The bottom of the chassis is shaped to reduce contact between the chassis and the ground while turning to improve cornering speed.

Source: Xray [teamxray.com]

February 5, 2023

Coelho & Rheinard win Snowbirds

Bruno Coelho and Marc Rheinard are the two big winners of this year’s Snowbird Nationals. In Modified Touring Car, defending Champion Coelho took the overall TQ for Xray from the Awesomatix of Rheinard with Alexander Hagberg lining up 3rd. With just a single A-Main to decide the winner of the 29th running of the iconic American race, World Champion Coelho would hold off his German rival taking the win by 2/10th of a second. A further 1.6 seconds back, Hagberg made it an all European podium line-up. Top American finisher would be ROAR National Champion Sam Isaacs in fourth. In the 1:12 GTP Modified it was Rheinard who was Top Qualifier. The reigning 1:12 World Champion lead the 8-minutes from start to finish posting the fastest lap in the process. Behind former World Champion Hagberg came through from 5th on the grid to finish 2nd ahead of 2nd and 3rd place qualifiers Donny Lia and Iaascs.

View 1:12 Podium here

February 4, 2023

Coelho to defend Snowbirds title from TQ

Bruno Coelho is to defend his Snowbird Nationals Touring Car title as the Top Qualifier. The back to back World Champion put his Xray on pole position with a fastest time in the penultimate round of qualifying but the FTD qualifying format meant he had to wait til the completion of Q4 for the result to be confirmed. Setting the pace in all four qualifiers at the Wyndham Orlando Resort and Conference Centre venue, starting behind the Portuguese star for the 29th running of the iconic Florida race will be Marc Rheinard. Top Qualifier in 1:12, he took his Awesomatix touring car to its best time also in Q3. Coelho’s team-mate Alexander Hagberg completes the Top 3 on the grid for the single A-Main ahead of 2022 Runner-up Sami Isaacs and Canadian Keven Hebert.

Image: Bruno Coelho [Facebook]

February 3, 2023

Coelho to contest 1:12 World title

In a major boost for the IFMAR 1:12 World Championship, reigning Touring Car World Champion Bruno Coelho has announced his intentions to travel to Florida for the 21st running of the IFMAR’s second longest running World Championships. The factory Xray star unveiled his intentions at the famous Snowbirds National which is taking place this week when he revealed that in addition to racing Touring Car he would be also contest 1:12 at the iconic Florida race. Known for his ultra successful relationship with Francesco Martini of MonacoRC as his mechanic in Touring Car, the Portuguese driver has teamed up with 1:12 expert Paul Ciccarello to guide him through his first foray into the pan car category. Known for his versatility that includes being the reigning 4WD Buggy World Champion, Coelho has had no trouble adapting to 1:12 as he claimed a TQ run in the opening round of qualifying together with a TQ run in Touring Car. In the past 1:12 kicked off the week of onroad electric World Championships action and most of the touring car stars raced for the title but after South Africa in 2018, where Alexander Hagberg was the only touring car front runner to take on the event, which he duly won, it became a standalone event. In 2020, touring car legend Marc Rheinard took the title in England for a second time. With the US, where Marc won his first 1:12 title in 2014 ending Naoto Matsukura’s 6 year reigning of the category, a hot spot for 1:12 and now Coelho committing to the event, the category looks set to garner plenty of additional attention in 2023. Red RC will as part of our extensive 2023 World Championship coverage be travelling to Florida to tell the story of how the race unfolds.

Image: Xray [Facebook]